Brago:Hmph, so you ningens are back huh? Well guess what? Yamia is still dead. I had to write this stinkin' chapter for her, so you better appreciate it! And you all know the deal, we don't own anything but the story idea and don't read this fanfic unless you've played Castlevania:Lament of Innocence. Not Curse of Darkness or Dawn of Sorrow. Lament of friggin' Innocence. What else do I say now? Oh yeah, read, review, enjoy. That is all.

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Tsuki no Tabi(Voyage to the Moon World)

Chapter 4:Arigatou(Thank You)

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'I hate you...'

-Heh, but you need me. No one else will you.-

'I don't need you anyone!'

-You belong to me. For eternity.-

'I want to kill you.'

-I am the night. I cannot be destroyed.-

"Remember that, my dear Joachim."

-

Golden orbs glittered in the darkness. He looked around. Nothing was out of order, nothing was disturbed. Not even a feeling of someone watching over him was felt. So then, who told him to remember? Why did he feel a lingering presence of another being in the room?

'Ignore it. I don't have enough energy. I must get back to sleep.'

Joachim turned over in his bed, ready to ignore the world outside of his chambers. He didn't remember much from the previous day. He felt the bandages on his stomach, how the hell had those gotten there?

'What the hell? How did I get injured? What the fuck was I doing yesterday?(sigh) Later, I'll think about it later. I need to get back to sleep.'

Joachim spread his arm across his bed but felt it connect with something...wet? The Methuselah pulled his arm away quickly and sat up quickly. What the fucking bloody hell?! Was he so weak he couldn't feel someone enter his chambers?

'I swear, if its Walter or the Succubus, I'll kill them!'

Joachim summoned over one of his swords and placed it above the intruder's head. It hovered, waiting for it's master's command to plunge down and kill the intruder. Joachim started to slowly lift the covers off of the person's head and saw a tuft of blonde hair.

'The Succubus?! It is her!'

He pulled covers all the way off and started a countdown in his head for his sword to strike. His eyes scaled down quickly, intent on getting one last look of the Succubus' true form before she was killed for her actions.

'Wait a minute...'

The Methuselah commanded his sword to halt. The sword stopped inches above the mess of blonde hair. The Succubus didn't have short blonde hair. So then, who-?

"...Leon Belmont...dammit! Curse my memory sometimes!"

Joachim ordered his sword away and sighed. He forgotten all about Leon Belmont and that he was staying here. But that wet thing he touched, what was that? He looked down and his eyes widened. The damn idiot drooled in his sleep! Joachim hit the top of Leon's, but the terran simply turned over.

"Heh. Bloody idiot. But I don't have the energy to just sit here and stare at you. I need to get back to sleep."

Joachim fell back against his pillow and fell asleep. Once his breathing evened out, Leon opened his eyes and got up, rubbing the spot where Joachim had hit him.

"Oww, that really hurt you know. Crazy Methuselah. Heh, but I guess Im an even crazier human for daring to stay for you. I wonder what Rinaldo would say if he knew about this?"

Leon got out of the large and strectched, feeling more refreshed than he was in the weeks he was in the castle. He started searching around the searching around the semi-darkness for his clothes and armor, putting them on when he found them. He didn't know how Joachim could stand the coldness down here. Maybe Methuselahs were impervious to the cold?

"Who knows...I guess Joachim is just weird." The terran sat in the chair Joachim had occupied earlier. He sighed and started looking around his friend's room. Leon's eyes finally fell on his Vampire Whip. He tensed slightly, but got up and walked over to it.

"I have to...get going. But, I can't just leave Joachim here by himself when he wakes up." Leon bent down and grabbed his weapon. attaching it back to its holster.

"Joachim, please wake up soon...and get better too..."

-

'What time is it? That was a stupid question. You can't even tell time in this blasted eternal darkness. But I should get up now. At least for Leon.'

A slender, pale body twitched and slowly started to sit up. He stretched slightly, feeling much better and full of energy. He felt his stomach, the wound was gone. Good, he wouldn't be able to stand staying in bed any longer.

"Joachim! You're awake! Are you feeling any better?"

Demonic eyes turned towards the source of the voice. Joachim gazed sleepily at Leon. What in the world was the terran doing up earlier than he was?

"Leon?...what are you doing up so early?" Joachim asked sleepily.

"Heh, you hit me, so I woke up." Leon smiled and rubbed a spot on his head.

"Thats because you drooled on me you idiot."

"Really? Haha! Im sorry!"

"Yeah, right..."Joachim looked over to the laughing ex-kinght and saw it. That whip. What was Leon planning?

"Leon...where are you going?" The Methuselah asked. Leon stopped his laughing and gave his friend a confused look.

"What do you mean?"

"You whip...are you leaving?"

"...Im sorry. I've stayed here in the castle instead of going to Rinaldo's to catch some sleep. I haven't even contacted him yet. He must be worried about me. I have to...go and see him. And I still have other parts of the castle to go to-"

"Thats all? Hmph, you should've told me that before we went to sleep." Joachim crossed his arms over his bare chest and mock-glared at Leon. The terran blushed and started fiddling with his armor.

"I-Im sorry...really..."

Joachim shook his head and smirked.

"Don't worry about it. I shall walk you back to the main transportation circle, okay?" Joachim smiled slightly at Leon, getting up and grabbing his coat and armor.

"A-alright..."

-

(splash, splash)

'I don't want to, but I have to. I have to tell him. There is no telling when we'll see each other again. Or if either of us gets defeated, neither of us will know...'

(splash, splash)

"Joachim, how come there aren't any monsters attacking us?"

"...its my presence. I rule over this part of the castle. No would would dare to attack me or anyone who is next to me."

"Oh..."

(splash,splash)

'I have to leave...but I don't want to. I don't want to leave him down here all alone. I feel like-'

"Leon, we're here."

Green eyes looked up uncertainly. They were in a dark, damp, spacious room. A purple glow shone from the back of the room. Joachim was right. Damn.

"Well, are you ready?"

"...yeah..."

Leon and Joachim walked to the end of the room, the glow from the transportation circle grew brighter the closer they approached, as was Joachim's anxiousness. It was a silly thing to worry over. He was just going to say it, push the terran into the circle, and not have to deal with him for another week or so. Nothing to worry about. Right? Right.

'I can't worry about it. I don't even know why Im thinking about doing this. But...what if he never comes back?'

Joachim looked up from his musings. Screw worrying like a frightened girl. He was going to do this dammit, and no one was going to stop him! Except for Leon, who had one foot in the damn circle already. The Methuselah's already dead heart skipped a beat. He had to stop him. Joachim opened his mouth but no words came out. What was wrong with him?! He couldn't be weak! Not now! He gathered up whatever courage he had left and opened his mouth once again.

"L-Leon, wait a minute..."Joachim managed to stutter out.

The terran looked up from where he was standing and stared at the Methuselah. He wanted him to wait? Didn't he know this was hard enough already? Leaving his friend alone in a place like this, as beautiful as it was...

"What is it Joachim?"

"I just...I...(sigh)Okay, this is the only time Im going to say this, because its hard for to do this so listen up!"

"Y-yes!"

'Joachim just rambled, he never does that. Unless something was bothering him. I wonder whats wrong?'

'Okay, this is the only chance I have. If I mess this up...'

"Leon, I..."

Leon cocked his head to the side. Joachim was hesitating. Something was wrong. But what was it?

"I-just wanted to let you know...just in case...we never see each other again...I...love you..."

'What?'

"I've spent two centuries alone, with the only company in this castle being Walter and the Succubus. Love...or any kind of emotion apart from anger and sorrow was hard to come by. I-the only time I ever felt happy, was when I was alive, but that was over two hundred years ago. But now, with you here, I don't really know what to feel. But...I think...I love you...the sad thing is though, I don't really remember what love feels like..."

"...Joachim...I-"

Leon's eyes widened. It was the same pressure as before, but he wasn't scared this time. Joachim's lips felt different this time. It...felt good. But as soon as it began, Joachim ended it, pulling away from the terran with half-lidded golden eyes. There, he did it. Now, the next part of his plan...

"Leon," Joachim whispered in the terran's ear."Come back to me, don't leave me..."

"Wha-"

Leon didn't get to finish as he was pushed through the large circle and disappeared. The Methuselah let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He did it. He really did it.

"Leon Belmont, thank you."

He closed his golden eyes and transported himself back to chambers.

Just what did love mean to him anyway?

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Brago:There, its over. Now review. Oh wait, a message from Yamia while shes in the Underworld...

Yamia:Minna! I hope you're all doing well! I hoped you guys enjoyed this chapter! Oh, and the title, Arigatou, I got from the ending theme for Kyou Kara Maoh!. You guys should watch that show! Oh! And Arigatou belongs to BON'z. Ja for now!

Brago:Hmph, foolish half-demon. Now like I said, go review. Now.